/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48746253/usa-today-9098904.0.jpg)
It was the best of times, and the worst of times. Corny, I know, but if we're talking best and worst case scenarios for the Butler Bulldogs and St. John's Red Storm, Dickens pretty much hit this one right on the head.
Led by senior Roosevelt Jones, who posted a triple-double with ten points, 14 rebounds and ten assists, the Bulldogs rickrolled St. John's for almost the entire game, going on a huge run in the first half en route to an 89-56 victory on the road.
For Butler, it was their second statement game in a row, washing a string of disappointing losses (and, to be fair, a win against DePaul) off their back by continuing to build on the momentum from their win against Georgetown earlier in the week. It's no secret that this rebuilding St. John's team is a team that Butler should be beating every time, but it was the way they did it today that might give them life going into an all-important pair of games against Seton Hall and Xavier next week.
It was the kind of game for the Bulldogs where coaches feel comfortable leaving a guy in for a few extra minutes while up big to let them chase the final assist of a triple double. It was the kind of game where even the walk-ons got in on the action. It was the kind of game where the backup point guard gets T'd up for hanging on the rim from an alley-oop after sinking four of his eight attempts from three on the night (we see you, Jordan Gathers). It was an energy booster, and ooh boy, are these Bulldogs going to need it as they push to the postseason.
On the other side of the floor, it was more business as usual for the flailing Red Storm. They've yet to win a game in this calendar year, or in conference play, and the loss to the Bulldogs today is their 14th straight. St. John's is in the midst of a well-publicized rebuild, but I'm not sure anyone saw it getting this low for Chris Mullin's squad. Overall, the Red Storm hit just 30.6 percent of their shots on the day, turning the ball over an alarming 21 times. The Bulldogs turned those turnovers into 26 points on the other end, and only Kassoum Yakwe scored in double digits for St. John's, finishing with 11 points and three rebounds.
Also boosting the Bulldogs were sophomore guard Kelan Martin, who had 18 points and five rebounds, and the aforementioned Gathers, who added 16 points and two steals off of the bench. It was a more quiet game for senior guard Kellen Dunham, finishing with just nine points, including two long makes from behind the three-point line.
The Bulldogs will continue their road trip next week, facing off with Seton Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. ET. For St. John's, they'll have the chance to put this one behind them quickly, heading down to Georgetown on Monday, Feb. 8. That game will tip off on Fox Sports 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET.